Systems and methods for distributing, duplicating and viewing movies, including customer-specific identification in the title sequence thereof

Abstract

An order for a movie is received from a customer, and a customer-specific identification is inserted into a title sequence for the movie that identifies actors, directors and/or producers of the movie. The movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, then is provided to the customer or a designee of a customer. Thus, the name of a customer or a designee of the customer is integrated into the title sequence, along with actors, directors and/or producers of the movie.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of distributing movies comprising: 
 receiving an order for a movie from a customer;    inserting a customer-specific identification into a title sequence for the movie that identifies actors, directors and/or producers of the movie; and    providing the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, to the customer or a designee of the customer.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the receiving comprises receiving an order for the movie from the customer over a cable television system, and wherein the providing comprises providing the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, to the customer or the designee of the customer, over the cable television system.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the receiving comprises receiving an order for the movie from the customer over a satellite television system, and wherein the providing comprises providing the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, to the customer or the designee of the customer, over the satellite television system.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the receiving comprises receiving an order for the movie from the customer over the Internet, and wherein the providing comprises providing the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, to the customer or the designee of the customer, over the Internet.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the title sequence is a digital title sequence and wherein the inserting comprises digitally inserting the customer-specific identification into the digital title sequence.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the title sequence includes a sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie and wherein the customer specific identification comprises the name of the customer or designee in the sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “brought to you by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened for” followed by the name of the designee of the customer, followed by the word “by”, followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the providing comprises: 
 generating a copy of the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, on a physical medium; and  
 delivering the physical medium to the customer or the designee of the customer.  
 
     
     
         11 . A method of duplicating movies comprising: 
 inserting a customer-specific identification into a title sequence for the movie that identifies actors, directors and/or producers of the movie; and    transmitting the movie including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, to the customer or a designee of the customer, over a cable television system, a satellite television system and/or the Internet.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the title sequence is a digital title sequence and wherein the inserting comprises digitally inserting the customer-specific identification into the digital title sequence.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the title sequence includes a sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie and wherein the customer specific identification comprises the name of the customer or a designee of the customer in the sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “brought to you by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened for” followed by the name of a designee of the customer, followed by the word “by”, followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the transmitting comprises: 
 generating a copy of the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, on a physical medium; and  
 providing the physical medium to the customer or a designee of the customer.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method of viewing a movie comprising: 
 ordering the movie by a customer; and    receiving the movie, including a customer-specific identification in a title sequence for the movie that identifies actors, directors and/or producers of the movie, by the customer or by a designee of the customer.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the ordering comprises ordering the movie by the customer over a cable television system, and wherein the receiving comprises receiving the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, by the customer or by the designee of the customer, over the cable television system.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the ordering comprises ordering the movie by the customer over a satellite television system, and wherein the receiving comprises receiving the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, by the customer or by the designee of the customer, over the satellite television system.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the ordering comprises ordering the movie by the customer over the Internet, and wherein the receiving comprises receiving the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, by the customer or by the designee of the customer, over the Internet.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the title sequence includes a sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie and wherein the customer specific identification comprises the name of the customer in the sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “brought to you by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened for” followed by the name of the designee of the customer, followed by the word “by”, followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the receiving comprises: 
 receiving a copy of the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, on a physical medium, by the customer or by the designee of the customer.  
 
     
     
         28 . A movie format comprising: 
 a title sequence that identifies actors, directors and/or producers of the movie;    a customer-specific identification in the title sequence that identifies a customer who ordered the movie; and    a movie that corresponds to the title sequence.    
     
     
         29 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein the title sequence includes a sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie and wherein the customer specific identification comprises the name of the customer in the sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie.  
     
     
         30 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         31 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “brought to you by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         32 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened for” followed by the name of a designee of the customer, followed by the word “by”, followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         33 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein the title sequence and the customer-specific identification precede the movie.  
     
     
         34 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein the title sequence and the customer-specific identification follow the movie.  
     
     
         35 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein the title sequence precedes and follows the movie and the customer-specific identification precedes the movie.  
     
     
         36 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein the title sequence precedes and follows the movie and the customer-specific identification follows the movie.  
     
     
         37 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein the title sequence includes background video and audio and wherein the customer-specific identification also includes the background video and audio.  
     
     
         38 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein a single copy of the title sequence, the customer-specific identification and the movie are included in a single physical medium.  
     
     
         39 . A movie format according to  claim 28  wherein a single copy of the title sequence, the customer-specific identification and the movie are transmitted via a cable television system, a satellite television system and/or the Internet.  
     
     
         40 . A system for distributing movies comprising: 
 means for receiving an order for a movie from a customer;    means for inserting a customer-specific identification into a title sequence for the movie that identifies actors, directors and/or producers of the movie; and    means for providing the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, to the customer or a designee of the customer.    
     
     
         41 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the means for receiving comprises a cable television company, and wherein the means for providing comprises a cable television set top box.  
     
     
         42 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the means for receiving comprises a satellite television company, and wherein the means for providing comprises a satellite television set top box.  
     
     
         43 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the means for receiving comprises an Internet movie server, and wherein the means for providing comprises an Internet client.  
     
     
         44 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the means for inserting comprises digital title insertion software.  
     
     
         45 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the title sequence includes a sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie and wherein the customer specific identification comprises the name of the customer or the designee of the customer in the sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie.  
     
     
         46 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         47 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “brought to you by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         48 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened for” followed by the name of the designee of the customer, followed by the word “by”, followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         49 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the means for providing comprises: 
 means for generating a copy of the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, in a physical medium; and  
 means for delivering the physical medium to the customer or the designee of the customer.  
 
     
     
         50 . A system for duplicating movies comprising: 
 means for inserting a customer-specific identification into a title sequence for the movie that identifies actors, directors and/or producers of the movie; and    means for transmitting the movie including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence.    
     
     
         51 . A system according to  claim 50  wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, to the customer or a designee of the customer, over a cable television system, a satellite television system and/or the Internet.  
     
     
         52 . A system according to  claim 50  wherein the means for inserting comprises digital title insertion software.  
     
     
         53 . A system according to  claim 50  wherein the title sequence includes a sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie and wherein the customer specific identification comprises the name of the customer or a designee of the customer in the sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie.  
     
     
         54 . A system according to  claim 50  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         55 . A system according to  claim 50  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “brought to you by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         56 . A system according to  claim 50  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened for” followed by the name of a designee of the customer, followed by the word “by”, followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         57 . A system according to  claim 50  wherein the means for transmitting comprises: 
 means for generating a copy of the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, in a physical medium; and  
 means for providing the physical medium to the customer or a designee of the customer.  
 
     
     
         58 . A system for viewing a movie comprising: 
 means for ordering the movie by a customer; and    means for receiving the movie, including a customer-specific identification in a title sequence for the movie that identifies actors, directors and/or producers of the movie, by the customer or by a designee of the customer.    
     
     
         59 . A system according to  claim 58  wherein the means for ordering and the means for receiving comprise a cable television set top box.  
     
     
         60 . A system according to  claim 58  wherein the means for ordering and the means for receiving comprise a satellite television set top box.  
     
     
         61 . A system according to  claim 58  wherein the means for ordering and the means for receiving comprise an Internet client.  
     
     
         62 . A system according to  claim 58  wherein the title sequence includes a sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie and wherein the customer specific identification comprises the name of the customer in the sequential listing of names of actors, directors and/or producers of the movie.  
     
     
         63 . A system according to  claim 58  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         64 . A system according to  claim 58  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “brought to you by” followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         65 . A system according to  claim 58  wherein the customer-specific identification comprises the words “screened for” followed by the name of the designee of the customer, followed by the word “by”, followed by the name of the customer.  
     
     
         66 . A system according to  claim 58  wherein the receiving comprises: 
 receiving a copy of the movie, including the customer-specific identification in the title sequence, in a physical medium, by the customer or by the designee of the customer.